The G2 on Xref

Xref Pros and Cons: Top Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users find Xref to be very easy to use, thanks to simple questions and reliable integration with Oracle. (55 mentions)

Users commend the excellent customer support from Xref, highlighting responsiveness and quick resolution of queries. (32 mentions)

Users highlight the efficient reference check process with Xref, enhancing speed and ease in recruitment efforts. (23 mentions)

Users appreciate the speed of Xref, noting that the reference check process is now efficient and hassle-free. (23 mentions)

Users praise Xref for its time-saving efficiency, streamlining reference checks and relieving the hassle of communication. (22 mentions)

Users commend the helpful customer support of Xref, noting its responsiveness and tailored assistance for diverse needs. (17 mentions)

Users express frustration with the messy custom report design, which affects professionalism and usability of the product. (7 mentions)

Users find the intrusive notifications from Xref to be disturbing, especially when they occur too frequently. (6 mentions)

Users find the reference management limitations frustrating, particularly with sorting and editing references during progress. (6 mentions)

Users find the unclear information from Xref frustrating, especially regarding suspicious activity and submission steps. (6 mentions)

Users struggle with inadequate feedback due to a misleading scoring system affecting hiring managers’ decision-making. (5 mentions)

Users find the limited customization options in Xref frustrating, leading to time-consuming manual adjustments for reporting. (5 mentions)

Users find Xref to be a costly option, especially for smaller organizations and those with infrequent hiring needs. (4 mentions)

Users find the poor customization options limiting, especially in editing referees and survey metrics. (4 mentions)

Users are frustrated by emails frequently landing in junk/spam folders, causing delays in candidate responses. (3 mentions)

Users find the inadequate reporting from Xref concerning, impacting their ability to verify and manage referee information efficiently. (2 mentions)

Top Pros or Advantages of Xref

1. Ease of Use

Users find Xref to be very easy to use, thanks to simple questions and reliable integration with Oracle.

See 55 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you like about Xref?

The process of entering the information is very simple, and the system is extremely reliable. Not having to manage the process when you can't get i

Holly L.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"User friendly"

What do you like about Xref?

Very easy to use. I have used a few platforms previously and Xref is by far the easiest

2. Customer Support

Users commend the excellent customer support from Xref, highlighting responsiveness and quick resolution of queries.

See 32 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Ally T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref Review"

What do you like about Xref?

We implemented Xref 4 months ago and it has improved our interview/reference check process immensely. The team like working with it and our hiring man

Chris G.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Focused questions, easy to implement and great support from the XRef Engage team"

What do you like about Xref?

The survey questions are appropriate and the ability to include additional questions ensures the information received were aligned with the organisati

3. Reference Checks

Users highlight the efficient reference check process with Xref, enhancing speed and ease in recruitment efforts.

See 23 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Xref -"

What do you like about Xref?

We have found Xref to be very easy to implement and use, a huge time saver in our recruitment process. The platform streamlines reference checking, sp

Ally T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref Review"

What do you like about Xref?

We implemented Xref 4 months ago and it has improved our interview/reference check process immensely. The team like working with it and our hiring man

4. Speed

Users appreciate the speed of Xref, noting that the reference check process is now efficient and hassle-free.

See 23 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Ally T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref Review"

What do you like about Xref?

We implemented Xref 4 months ago and it has improved our interview/reference check process immensely. The team like working with it and our hiring man

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Very good and easy to use"

What do you like about Xref?

saves a lot of time and does all the hard work. Never had any issues.

5. Time-saving

Users praise Xref for its time-saving efficiency, streamlining reference checks and relieving the hassle of communication.

See 22 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you like about Xref?

The process of entering the information is very simple, and the system is extremely reliable. Not having to manage the process when you can't get i

Ally T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref Review"

What do you like about Xref?

We implemented Xref 4 months ago and it has improved our interview/reference check process immensely. The team like working with it and our hiring man

6. Helpful

Users commend the helpful customer support of Xref, noting its responsiveness and tailored assistance for diverse needs.

See 17 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Xref -"

What do you like about Xref?

We have found Xref to be very easy to implement and use, a huge time saver in our recruitment process. The platform streamlines reference checking, sp

Craig C.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref review"

What do you like about Xref?

I was amazed at the speed with which my requests were responded to, plus I received add information packages that I have since shared with the talent

Top Cons or Disadvantages of Xref

1. Reporting Issues

Users express frustration with the messy custom report design, which affects professionalism and usability of the product.

See 7 mentions

See Related User Reviews

4.5/5

"Easy to use, clear, quick results, minimal effort, automation"

What do you dislike about Xref?

I wish it could perhaps not send as many automated reminders out to the candidates and/or references, especially on the weekend, it feels slightly inv

4.0/5

"Platform is easy to use. Loads slowly."

What do you dislike about Xref?

Slow loading in the platform. Each report downloads as a separate report.

2. Intrusive Notifications

Users find the intrusive notifications from Xref to be disturbing, especially when they occur too frequently.

See 6 mentions

See Related User Reviews

4.5/5

"Easy to use, clear, quick results, minimal effort, automation"

What do you dislike about Xref?

I wish it could perhaps not send as many automated reminders out to the candidates and/or references, especially on the weekend, it feels slightly inv

James H.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Talent Acquisition Manager"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes the level of remainders for candidates can cause negative feedback

3. Reference Management

Users find the reference management limitations frustrating, particularly with sorting and editing references during progress.

See 6 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you dislike about Xref?

That the completed references don't get sorted in the order they are completed (they are ordered by when they were sent out) which makes it more diffi

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"It has been easy to use and quick to review references and details."

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes the AI description being at the top of references is confusing. It also sometimes formats in different ways, e.g., there can be a blank page

4. Unclear Information

Users find the unclear information from Xref frustrating, especially regarding suspicious activity and submission steps.

See 6 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"I like X Ref, it's efficient!"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes, suspicious activity/ flags don't show up on the initial report. Instead I get an email from X-Ref end of day.. which is unreliable.

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

3.5/5

"Great tool to conduct reference checks for candidates"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Some referees find the frequent reminders are disturbing. Sometimes candidates missed the last step to click "Submit" and their referees' details di

5. Inadequate Feedback

Users struggle with inadequate feedback due to a misleading scoring system affecting hiring managers’ decision-making.

See 5 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Sandra H.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Xref Review – Great Experience!"

What do you dislike about Xref?

One area that could use improvement is the scoring system. While the platform provides a numerical score based on referee responses, we’ve found that

Annie K.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Easy, Fast, Efficent, Reliable"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Not being able to access the referees contact details until they have filled it out

6. Limited Customization

Users find the limited customization options in Xref frustrating, leading to time-consuming manual adjustments for reporting.

See 5 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you dislike about Xref?

That the completed references don't get sorted in the order they are completed (they are ordered by when they were sent out) which makes it more diffi

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

3.5/5

"Easy to use and saves time"

What do you dislike about Xref?

The configuration of questions makes it difficult to add or remove questions from existing surveys

7. Expensive

Users find Xref to be a costly option, especially for smaller organizations and those with infrequent hiring needs.

See 4 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Helpful tool for large organisations"

What do you dislike about Xref?

The pricing structure is on the higher side. This would be more noticible for those with less frequent hiring needs, like smaller organisations.

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Exactly what we needed"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Whilst ability to conduct different types of surveys are good once you have engaged the company, there are some hidden costs (mainly set-up and for mi

8. Poor Customization

Users find the poor customization options limiting, especially in editing referees and survey metrics.

See 4 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you dislike about Xref?

That the completed references don't get sorted in the order they are completed (they are ordered by when they were sent out) which makes it more diffi

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

3.5/5

"Easy to use and saves time"

What do you dislike about Xref?

The configuration of questions makes it difficult to add or remove questions from existing surveys

9. Email Management

Users are frustrated by emails frequently landing in junk/spam folders, causing delays in candidate responses.

See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"I like X Ref, it's efficient!"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes, suspicious activity/ flags don't show up on the initial report. Instead I get an email from X-Ref end of day.. which is unreliable.

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref, references at your fingertips"

What do you dislike about Xref?

sometimes the emails to candidates go to junk/spam folders.

10. Inadequate Reporting

Users find the inadequate reporting from Xref concerning, impacting their ability to verify and manage referee information efficiently.

See 2 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"I like X Ref, it's efficient!"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes, suspicious activity/ flags don't show up on the initial report. Instead I get an email from X-Ref end of day.. which is unreliable.

Miranda R.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Talent Acquisition Lead"

What do you dislike about Xref?

The only thing we wish was possible is customising metrics and questions for pulse surveys along with exporting results and reports but apart from tha

G2 reviews are authentic and verified.

Here's how.

Verified User in Information Technology and Services

11/4/2025

"Makes referencing so easy!"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

It takes out all the admin when it comes to collecting references. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

Nothing so far. Still learning how to get the most out of X-Ref! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Xref solving and how is that benefiting you?

Working in a scaling international company where we are hiring multiple candidates per quarter, it has made my life so much easier as the People & Capability Manager to collect references. I don't need to worry about time zone differences or following up with candidates or referee's. Saves me hours of admin! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

Everything we do, including our pricing, multilanguage, multiregion, and of course privacy policies, is set up for global recruitment and scaling. I'm so glad you are finding the value and we are supporting your growth. Don't forget to make full use of the Talent Pool feature and turn referees into candidates!

See how Xref improved

Verified User in Hospital & Health Care

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/21/2025

"Great tool to conduct reference checks for candidates"

3.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

Great way to collect referees' details and track progress

Xref follows up with the candidates and referees if there's no response from them

Any unusual activities are flagged to the recruitment team.

Can replace any unsuitable references. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

Some referees find the frequent reminders are disturbing.

Sometimes candidates missed the last step to click "Submit" and their referees' details did not come through without them knowing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Education Management

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/22/2025

"A simplified, seamless way to obtain references!"

5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

The most helpful thing about XRef is that it is candidate driven. It gives the power to the candidate to be responsible for their references and also aware of the process Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

The only downside to XRef would be that you can't get the tone of the reference as you would with phone call reference Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

We're glad to hear that you appreciate the candidate-driven aspect of Xref and the convenience it offers for obtaining references.

To get the most out of our data, please ensure you are utilizing the Sentiment Score and AI Summaries on the reference reports. These features will guide you toward a more programmatic and objective tone of voice when assessing candidates.

It's important to remember that when references are conducted via telephone, the most overtly positive ones can sometimes be fraudulent. Xref tracks a far greater number of data points and surfaces unusual activity and benchmark insights, enabling you to make a more informed and data-driven hiring decision.

If you still feel the need to make a quick call to the referee, all their contact information is readily available on the report for you to do so.

Verified User in Hospitality

10/30/2025

"Easiest Platform in the Market"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

I like the AI summaries that are provided on each ref, I especially like that i get notified directly when references are completed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

I wish there was a function to be notified if there was no response from the candidate or reference after a certain amount of time. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

Thanks so much for providing this great review. We actually place the responsibility on the candidate to respond and communicate with their references, which saves you more time. However, if you use our AI Support function, you can request the status of any request or filter the request list by status.

Matt D.

National Talent Acquistion Manager

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/17/2025

"Easy to use and gets good insights from referees"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

Setting up and conducting reference checks for hires of varying levels is effortless with Xref. The platform not only evaluates the quality of references but also provides insights based on the feedback received. Additionally, the feature allowing referees to opt in for future opportunities with the firm serves as a valuable tool for talent acquisition, enabling the identification of additional potential candidates. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

Nothing I dislike, it takes away a manual task from the HR team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Luis A.

People & Culture Manager

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/23/2025

"Good service!"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

Easy to use.

Quick response.

Good summarized notes Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

There is nothing that i dislike of it, it makes our job easier. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

Thank you for your positive feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Xref has made your job easier and more efficient by streamlining the reference checking process. We're glad you find the platform easy to use with quick responses and helpful summarized notes. If you ever have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help and support you every step of the way. Thank you for choosing Xref!

Kathryn F.

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2/11/2025

"A seamless experience, an invaluable time saver!"

5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

The ease of use - I can send a reference check request in less than a minute and the platform experience (especially since the upgrade to the new platform) allows me as a recruiter to customise as I go. We have partnered with Xref for 6 years and the customer support from the team has been fantastic and prompt. I am looking forward to the future integrations with other platforms i.e. CV Check. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

In some instances it can be a little more valueable to complete a reference check over the phone, however considering the time saved, efficiency and positive feedback from referees the platform is an extremely valueable tool. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Xref solving and how is that benefiting you?

Xref is a great solution to save time as a recruiter when completing reference checks for candidates in the recruitment process. The platform allows the referees to complete the form at a time that suits them (even outside of work hours) and we generally recieve robust and considered responses. The 'opt in' for future opportunities for the referees is a great way to pipeline and identify future talent for the business. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

We're thrilled to hear that you find Xref to be a seamless and invaluable time saver! Our team is dedicated to providing a user-friendly platform and prompt customer support, and we're glad to hear that you've had a fantastic experience with us for the past 6 years. We're also excited about the future integrations with other platforms, like CV Check. Thank you for your valuable feedback!

Verified User in Mental Health Care

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

9/17/2025

"It has been easy to use and quick to review references and details."

4/5

What do you like best about Xref?

It is easy to submit and send the reference details. Being able to save templates means that I spend less time drafting emails and formatting. It is efficient. It is also clear to read referee details. I use it for most references and it allows referees to contact us easy too. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes the AI description being at the top of references is confusing. It also sometimes formats in different ways, e.g., there can be a blank page at times. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Staffing and Recruiting

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

9/22/2025

"An efficient system to get References done quickly"

4/5

What do you like best about Xref?

It is super simple to use and is integrated into our CRM which means you can send off for references and know the candidate will fill out and get reminders and then it saves the references back into the CRM. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

It has some back office functionality issues if you dont follow the traditional 2 references per candidate model. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.